Birthday's, Rainbows, Cake and Florida Sands

It seems ages since our last meet up, and this one was an extra special one - we have three Birthday's in April - for the last few years we have had high tea - you know the kind of thing - sandwiches, cake, scones, cake, trifle, cake and then just to round the day off a little bit more cake!

This year was a little more restrained, salad, quiche with home made bread..... a little bit of a posh salad mind compared to normal.....

But of course this was rounded off with strawberries and of course cake, amazing cakes - Jenjo Cakes no less.....

Way too good to eat we all declared, however we managed to eat them all the same - of course they were birthday cakes so we had candles..... in fact we had to relight some candles several times as one QQ seem to had run out of puff. Yes, you in the middle, I'm talking about you!!!!

We had gifts a plenty -

We even spent time trying to open gifts along side our missing QQ, while using modern technology...... we could see Ellen, Ellen could hear us and not see us, and then before you could say 'sand in my knickers', everything had gone.  We tried again - this time 'walking' around the USA apartment, trying to see the Florida sand.... unluckily for us (or maybe luckily) the glare from the sun was too bright and the sand disappeared - otherwise I fear we would have abandon cakes and gifts to reach the nearer airport to head over!  We had major trouble catching all the words on Skype but it was great to see Ellen settling in and heading off to a needlework class at her local library - not as a replacement of course for us lot but just as some temporary company while away - no one could replace us lot - well maybe if you were to visit the local mental hospital you'd find some similar company!!!! :)

What you say, work..... did we do any work...... well I for one, only got a few rows done on my ripple blanket, the other seemed to be far more productive.  We had some massive ripple love going on at this meeting.... with both ripples along side each other.. with a quick calculation I have 24 rows left with a boarder to complete Helen has 29 rows - I'm placing a £5 bet now that Helen finishes way ahead!

Christine had curtains to hem, and a Dahlia to finish....

Taggy had a finished cushion for the 'show and tell pile', and the start of a new baby quilt...

Annie had her first granny square lesson, and went away with a mini granny blanket for mini-Ellen (well it may be king sized by the next meeting... watch this space!)

A great day, always a little odd when we have a QQ missing - but technology allowed us to close that gap for a little while - with a promise to do again soon to iron out the technological problems, so that next time maybe the missing QQ could sew with us for a little while.

Next year a suggestion has been made that the three birthdays are split - a little bit like the queen an official birthday and an unofficial birthday - so now instead of celebrations in April - we will have celebrations in March, April and May.  Oh my goodness how much cake!

Bittersweet in Fulham

Given EL's impeding move and her immobility due to a recent ankle operation, the Quirkies packed up and came to Fulham.  With the forecast of possible snow, all were well prepared.

 

After the usual catch up and a cup of tea, we all got down to our projects.  CB and HW are doing ripple blankets and who's to say there is a competition, although CB is determined HW won't finish before her ... watch this space for the race!

HT

CB after several months of work

HW starting for an August pressie

CB and HW recommend for their ripple blankets

The rest of us continue to try and make a dent in our pile of UFO's . . . 

AB hand quilting
 

CD's almost finished the Giant Dahlia

HS's silk tie memento pillow for a friend



EL worked boringly (so no picture) on cutting out 16 x 9 different pieces for the Dahlia quilt, whilst we were distracted by visitors outside - annoyingly CB forgot her camera, but HW came to the rescue.

HS shared her lovely dollie quilt which is inspiring EL ... who made the most of her last Quirky meeting to ask lots and lots and lots of questions.

 

After a lovely lunch (on which EL and hubby feasted for 2 more meals!), AB PROVED SHE CAN CROCHET.  The Quirkies ended the day by wishing EL the best for her move and giving her a knitted likeness to share her adventures and send back blog posts!  With such laughter, fun and quilting support, EL will miss them all.



2014: January full of resolutions.....

Today was our first meeting of 2014 so there was a bit of catching up to be done, even though one of us was missing.  How could anyone possibly prefer a holiday in the canary islands rather than a day quilting with friends?

There was plenty to be done..
HW intending to embellish this scrappy zappy do wall hanging.....

But finished up adding more quilting and binding it to control the fluff....

EL started a whole new crochet project (having given the prototype away to an admirer)

CD made steady progress adding petals to the great dahlia project...

This is going to be SOOOOO impressive when its done...

AB continued with her resolution to finish three projects in 2014 ...startnig wtih finishing this one by the end of February...

And finally CB pressing on with her resolution to make a memory quilt in time for a special birthday...

What a shame we'll have to repeat all this catching up again in February when our missing quirky will no doubt be showing off her sun tan!

December: The last meeting for 2013

I cannot believe this is our last meeting for 2013.....where has the year gone...... so many projects started, not so many finished!!!!! 

We had colour all the way today....

Free motion - on a baby quilt for CB - have a guess if it was a boy or girl!!!

Christmas fabric for AB - backing for the quilt top already completed

Back

Front

Finished as last - a wonderful Sunflower quilt from HW.  A quilt which has sat on the UFO pile for some time.  Even more satisfying to finish a quilt when its from the UFO pile!

And, Oh my goodness, I think that may be a Christmas decoration in HS hand ....... no it can't be HS 'does not do Christmas'.  Button and beads to add!!

Ladybird cushion cover from EL - backing being added ready to be shipped to the USA.  I could so see this in a bumble bee pattern.

The Giant Dahlia wall hanging from CD.  I have made no secret that I just LOVED this - the colours are just amazing.  I am just waiting for C to finish so I can place on MY wall :))

It was a very cold day today - so much so that our special new comer made himself comfy on HS warm car engine.  You never notice the cold when you have a room full of colour, laughter and good company.  Dates chosen for 2014 and in our diaries.  Roll on 2014 - new year - new wishlist of projects to make, new techniques to learn and master, however, same old resolution to finish some UFO's.

HAPPY CHRISTMAS ONE AND ALL

WISHING YOU ALL A WONDERFUL CREATIVE 2014

November: Half the quirkies...

We were a subdued group of quirkies this month.
Family commitments and a sudden need to work through the night depleted numbers to an exact half.
But did that mean we were half as busy? oh no not a bit of it....

There were mini Christmas wall hangings to be started....

Crochet challenges to be conquered...

Coloured flowers to be crocheted together....

There was chit and chat, and then some chat and chit.

Then there was splendid minestrone soup and fresh bread...

 

So we were fully refreshed and revitalised for conquering crochet practice on boring plain white wool and moving onto neon yarn in the afternoon....